//------------------------------// // Homecoming // Story: The Bon Identity // by DashEight //------------------------------// Ponyville Theatre Ponyville, Equestria 1001, Second Era of the Two Sisters Rendezvous With Bon-Bon at the Farmers' Market: T-00d00h15m45s "You?! Really? Hee heh hee..." *snrkt* Octavia rolled her eyes at Lyra as her colleauge tried to hide her amusement. "May I ask what is so funny?" "He heh, nothing, really!" Lyra replied, utterly failing to stifle a giggle. "I can wait..." Octavia narrowed her eyes. The glare she directed at Lyra was so venomous that, were the unicorn a disguised Changeling, she would keel over and die from the flood of Octavia's negative emotions. (Octavia claimed this actually happened at Princess Cadance's wedding, but was so far unable to replicate her Changeling-killing death glare for Princess 'Scientific Method' Sparkle.) Her silent attempts to strangle Lyra with her mind went either unnoticed or ignored by the other mare, further increasing her annoyance. She folded her forelegs atop the desk as Lyra laughed silently from her seat in the high-backed office chair. MY chair, Octavia fumed to herself. Finally managing to get her giggling under control, Lyra took a few deep breaths. "Whoo... I'm sorry Tavi, it's just..." she trailed off for a moment as she considered how to phrase her thoughts, "that's the exact opposite of how I pictured you when you were at CA..." "Oh? Please do tell. I'm positively dying to hear the Lyra Heartstrings Adaptation of my own life." Octavia's voice dripped with annoyance, finally getting through to Lyra 'Tactless' Heartstrings that perhaps she should ease up on the mocking lest she end up a cautionary tale for misbehaving foals. "I dunno," Lyra shrugged, offering her fellow musician her best 'please don't be insulted' look. "I just kinda pictured you as being more like, well, you know..." "Uptight? Work-obsessed? What was that lovely nickname you coined to Vinyl, 'Lady Buzz Killerina, Duchess of Rod-upon-Flankingshire'?" Lyra felt a bucket of ice water empty into her veins. That traitorous little --! The Sacred Oath between mares was quite clear, any complaining about the workplace or boss were to be kept in strictest confidence. "Scratch told you about that?!? When? How?" "We're dating, Heartstrings. You think she'd keep it from me?" "No, I mean how, Scratch can't even..." Lyra deflated, embarrassed. "Look, I shouldn't have said that. It was two in the morning, you had just made us run through the duet like twenty times, and Rarity was being a drama queen. I was tired and I wanted to go home." She paused. "And you're not 'uptight', you're 'driven'. Everypony knows how high the bar's been set for Lullaby." "That's a step in the right direction, I suppose," Octavia sighed, mildly surprised that Lyra had the self-awareness to admit as much. "Thank you." Truth to be told, her relentless pushing of the cast and crew was taking a toll on her just as much as them. Bossing around ponies that were also her friends and neighbors always left an unpleasant taste in her mouth, and it was nice to know that they understood why she had to. She knew the hype her production needed to live up to and the amount of effort needed to make that happen. She also knew the ponies she was working with and could see that they had the potential to create something truly great, despite most of them being part-timers. They just needed the extra push. "Believe it or not," she continued, trotting over to the wall of the office, where her degree hung in its mahogany frame. "I was indeed 'fun' at one point. I never found Canterlot Academy particularly challenging, even during my advanced studies. A mare in such a position often finds herself with a significant amount of downtime on her hooves, and whenever I wasn't practicing cello I was spending time with my friends." "I guess I can understand that," Lyra squirmed in the fancy office chair to keep her hindquarters from falling asleep. "I kinda had the same thing going on at SGU. I wasn't a straight-A student, but the music courses were dead easy for me and I've always been a natural caster. I kiiiinda mostly blew off the Gen Ed stuff too." "Yes, I remember seeing you and your cohorts around Donut Joe's fairly often." "You know, I think I remember you too! You ran with the bowtie crowd, right?" "I'd hardly refer to my band and friends as the 'bowtie crowd, but yes. I was... more carefree in those days. We probably would have gotten along much better than we do now. While we never went out of my way to make trouble, we did run afoul of school disciplinarians a few times." "Heh, yeah, I know what you mean..." Meadowbrook Hall, Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns Canterlot, Equestria 994 C. E. Knock, knock, knock. Giddilee impatiently rapped her forehoof against the locked classroom door. Several thumps and the sound of furniture dragging across a linoleum floor could be heard inside what was supposed to be an empty science lab. Frowning, she knocked again. "Hello? Who's in there?" "Ohno. Nonononono!" "Twilight, cast the counterspell!" "I don't have it memorized! Quick, pass me Clover's Compendium of Curse Cancellations!" "G-girls? Is it supposed to be moving like that?" Giddilee knocked again, with a renewed sense of urgency. "I know there are students in here! You need to open this door right this second!" "Don't answer her!" "We have to, we're not supposed to be in here unsupervised! We'll get in trouble!" "We'll get in worse trouble if you and Moondancer don't find that counterspell!" "Um, girls? I thi-AAAH! AAAAAAA HELP ME ITS GOT MY HEAD! ITS GUMMING ME! THIS IS SOOOO GROSS!" Several more thumps, followed by glass shattering and a deep bass rumble. With no small sense of alarm, Giddilee pounded on the door a third time. "Fillies, I promise you nopony will be getting detention, but you need to let me in right now!" "Lemon Hearts! Hang on!" "AAAA IT WANTS TO EAT MY HEAD WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING!?" "What about this one? Floras Tondendas?" "That's for landscaping!" "FOOLISH CREATURES OF FLESH AND BONE! FERNICUS HAS AWAKENED!" Eyes widening, Giddilee lit her horn, focusing on the doorknob. She was halfway through her Lockpicking Cantrip when somepony pulled it open from the other side. The two fillies in the doorway looked nearly identical, bar their different coat and mane colors. Both wore painfully forced smiles as they stood side-by-side in a hopeless attempt to block Giddilee's view of the carnage behind them. Overturned desks lay scattered about the lab, while others were smashed to kindling. Potion stains adorned the walls where beakers had been thrown into them at high speeds. Dark green... vines? lay writhing intertwined throughout the wreckage. The blue one spoke first. "Heeyyyyyyyy, Miss Giddilee!" She drew her words out. "Need something?" "Minuette, what on Equestria is going on in here?" "Oh, nothing!" The mint one piped up. A vine whipped across the room behind her. "We were just working on a group project for Professor Gingersnap, and we might've made a typo in the rune circle. We're cleaning it up now, promise!" "THE REIGN OF MAMMAL HAS COME TO AN END. ALL SHALL BOW TO FERNICUS THE UNCLIPPERED!" Behind Minuette and Lyra, more vines writhed throughout the room, grasping at another two students who were deftly sidestepping the vines' grasp while levitating books in front of their muzzles. The two continued to argue over which spell to use as they flipped through their respective tomes. Giddilee stepped back in shock as a thick tendril of plant matter slithered into view. At the end of the stalk a round red bud covered in white dots held a yellow filly in the air, its flowery maw clamped securely around her head. She kicked and yelled as it waved her around the room. Her white coated friend dashed after her, firing magic bolts at the monstrosity. "TWINKLESHINE SAVE MEEEEEE!" Lyra's innocent smile cracked, as did Minuette's. "It might've been two typos... Please don't tell Princess Celestia!" "Oh hay, that's a big one..." Giddilee swore as she pushed her way into the room, lighting her horn. "Oh! Um, pretend you didn't hear that. Minuette, Heartstrings, go fetch Professor Inkwell," she said as she telekenetically pulled Lemon Hearts free of the botanical behemoth. "She's conducting a private lesson with the Princess's protege. Tell them you were fetching some papers for me when you just happened to notice an out-of-control Growth spell," she winked at The two fillies as they rushed off to find help. Giddilee levitated Lemon through the door and quickly motioned for the three remaining students to follo their dazed friend into the hallway. "Girls! Now, please!" "But-but..." The red-maned one protested, "our project..." "THE GARDEN OF THE NEW WORLD SHALL BE FERTILIZED WITH THE BLOOD OF THE HEATHENS! BOW! BOW, OR BE GROUND TO NITRATE-RICH DUST!" "Moondancer," Giddilee began, recongnizing the filly as the one who threw off the grading curve in her Transfiguration 341 class. "I'm sure you can work something out with Ms. Gingersnap. I'll even talk to her if you'd like. But we need to leave, now!" Moondancer, Sparkle, and Twinkleshine finally jolted into action at her shout, sprinting for the door while levitating piles of precious books behind them. Giddilee slammed the door shut as soon as the fillies were clear, barely ahead of the writhing, monolouging mass of vines. I should write my sister, ask if there are any openings at her school, Giddilee thought. I'll bet this kind of insanity never happens in Ponyville. "That is... not surprising in the least. I've never met Moondancer, but between you and the rest of your school friends the only part I can't believe is that your alma mater hasn't already burned to the ground." "That's harder than it looks, trust me. The main building was mostly stone, like the castle." "I was speaking in metaphor, but that is a... useful... piece of information? Anyhow, funny you should mention a magical plant monster, As it happens, I may know the other side to that story..." Canter Mount Research and Storage Facility (Again) Canterlot, Equestria 994 C. E. The elevator clanged to a stop at the entrance chamber of the subterranean Canter Mount laboratories. Bright fluorescent lights shone down from the high rock roof, banishing shadows to the furthest reaches of the cavern. Ponies hurried to and fro, some trotting down the tunnels to the labs while others headed up winding pathways along the edge of the chamber, ascending slowly towards the facility's various secret entrances around Canterlot. (There was even an entrance that connected directly to the castle, via Starswirl the Bearded's old hideaway. That one was strictly off-limits to anypony except the Princess after a few 'incidents' throughout the years.) Sweetie pulled open the elevator's metal grate, storming out in a huff. She waved a pass card at the thoroughly disinterested receptionist as she headed towards the pathway back up to the ERS building. Sweetie began the trot up the path, her annoyance at her best friend slowly melting away. Octavia got the better of her, sure, but it had all been in good fun. Sweetie pulled similar pranks herself back when they were both fillies. She was more embarrassed at how easily Octavia outmaneuvered her. She just took down a terrorist ring, for Faustsakes! Still, it hardly mattered now that they finally had a chance to spend some time together. Not even her discomfort at the idea of socializing with university students could pop the little bubble of joy she felt at the thought. I'll just have to remember to get her back somehow before I'm reassigned. Quid pro quo, Clef. Quid pro quo. Sweetie faltered as she approached an unusal sight at one of the base's 'loading dock' entrances, often used for bringing in captured creatures away from the public eye. Flash Sentry and Night Glider huddled near a tunnel junction, peering down the subterranean hallway towards a cave opening somewhere below Canterlot's city limits. Flash looked positively terrified, the guardspony held one of Night Glider's wings in front of him in a poor attempt to hide from whatever had caught the pair's interest. Puzzled, Sweetie ambled up behind them. "Hey, what's going on?" "EEP!" Two pegasi leaped into the air, whirling around at the unexpected surprise. "Some spies you two are," Sweetie rolled her eyes. Be nice to the doofus, a voice in her head chided. "By the way, welcome to the team, Sentry." She gave the startled pegasus a friendly hoofbump as he fluttered back to solid ground. "What's down there that's so interesting? I don't remember seeing any deliveries on the board today." "Shh!" Flash urgently shushed her, motioning her away from the corner of the tunnel. "She'll hear you!" Sweetie arced an eyebrow at that, but lowered her voice and joined the pegasi group huddle. "I know you're new here, but you kiinda need to rethink first impressions, Sentry. I'm sort of your boss now." "Sorry! Sorry!" Flash whispered urgently. "It's just--" His mouth worked soundlessly. "His ex showed up with something for the containment cells," Night Glider finished for him, hiding her amusement. She pulled Sweetie to the corner. "C'mere ma'a--Drops, take a look." Sweetie peeked around the corner at the commotion that had captured her fellow spy's attention. Near the cave's exit, she spotted two unicorns speaking with a very annoyed Double Cross. The elder mare was gray with her mane wrapped in a tight bun and a scarred left eye. Sweetie recognized her as one of the senior professors at Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, an institution well known to the OCS for its various incidents over the years. The younger had a yellow-orange coat, a mane and tail of liquid fire that cascaded down in bouncy curls, and wore an expression of haughty disdain. Sweetie watched as the younger unicorn spoke, waving a hoof dismissively at Double Cross. Double said something back to her in a calm, quiet tone that Sweetie could not quite make out. As Sweetie watched Double speak, she could see quite a few veins popping out along his forehead and neck. Double put a hoof to his head as the younger unicorn spoke again, as if to ease a migrane. "Da-amn Sentry, you dated her?" Sweetie asked Flash. Flash sighed. "Yep, my first year in the Guard I was stationed in Canterlot. I transferred out to Yoke Mountain to get away from her. Biggest mistake of my life." "Ouch. I'm sorry." Sweetie peeked back at the group in the tunnel. Double had turned toward the entrance, signalling to a group of security poines who were dragging some sort of large cage into the mountain. "I mean, I get the whole 'hot for teacher' thing, I really do, but isn't she a little old for you?" Night Glider doubled over, holding her hooves over her mouth to muffle her laughter. Flash rolled his eyes at Sweetie, who was wearing her best 'aren't-I-funny' smirk. "Ha ha, good one ma'am. The other one, the Little Miss I'm-So-Perfect next to her." "Had to be done, Corporal. C'mon, you pretty much set me up for it." Sweetie nudged Flash, giggling quietly. At least he can take a joke. Hearing hoofsteps, she looked back down towards the cavern exit. "Whoops, they're heading this way. Look casual, ponies." The two operatives retreated from the tunnel entrance, Sweetie whistling and feigning preoccupation with the markings on the chamber walls. Night Glider pulled out the day's issue of Equestria Daily, which she pretended to read upside-down. Flash cowered behind Night Glider, hiding as best he could from a pony he had hoped never to see again. As Double Cross and the newcomers approached, Sweetie began to pick up snippets of the conversation. "--understand yer not equipped ta hold onta somethin' of this nature, but ya can't just come knockin' on our front door like that. It's a security risk, and let's face facts, this ain't the first pony-eatin' horror to come out of yer school..." "Oh, excuse me for assuming I should bring the tentacled horror from beyond time and space to the ponies who specifically deal with tentacled horrors from beyond time and space!" The younger mare snapped. "That is what you do here, isn't it? Or do you just throw millions of taxpayer bits into a big smelting chamber?" "You could'a been followed by any number of ponies, our operation here is supposed ta be secret. Next time, call us and we'll come ta you." Double looked back at the cage and the unconscious, slowly shifting mass of sapient plant matter inside. "Or, ya know, a can of weed killer might work too." The younger mare opened her mouth to speak, but was shushed by the elder. "Stop picking fights, Sunset. We have to get back to the school," she admonished. "Yes, Professor Inkwell," 'Sunset' chimed with a noticeable growl in her voice. As the group exited the tunnel, they instantly spotted the nonchalant ponies absolutely not eavesdropping. Double raised an eyebrow at Sweetie while Sunset rolled her eyes and sighed in disgust. Sweetie tried to look surprised, like they had just happened to bump into each other. "Oh, hi Mr. Cross! I didn't know we had visitors. Welcome to Canter Mount, you two. Have a lovely visit, and please don't tell your friends!" "Thank you, missy," Inkwell replied cordially, before turning to Sunset. "Told you about those spies down in the gopher holes, didn't I? Nopony ever wants to believe poor old crazy Inkwell, kids these days rackum frackum grumble..." Inkwell trailed off, continuing to mutter under her breath. "Ugh." Sunset kept walking for the exit. She suddenly paused, frowning in recognition and turning back to the group. "...Flash? What are you doing here?" Flash lowered Night Glider's wing, which he had been attempting to hide behind. "Heeeyyyyy Sunset. You're, um... looking nice?" "Ugh." Sunset turned and walked off, her muzzle held high in disgust. Flash hung his head. Night Glider patted the dejected guard with her wing. Double Cross grunted his annoyance at the two visitors as they trotted up the path towards the city exit. When they had receded out of sight, he looked back at the junior spies. "Ladies," he acknowledged. "New guy. Evenin'." "What was that about?" Sweetie asked. "Oh, just Her Highness's perfect pet protege sullyin' her hooves down here w' us common folk. It's not like anypony here was about ta clock out and go see his daughters for the first time all month or anythin'." He grimaced. The mass of leaves and branches in the cage shifted, letting out a woozy roar. The ponies handling the cage jumped back and reached for their weapons before it settled, lapsing back into blissful catatonia. Now that she had a better look, Sweetie could see blackened wood and charred vines. Thick ropes of tentacle-like plant matter cracked and flaked to ashy stumps. Whatever this thing was, somepony had done a number on it. "Did our ponies do that?" Sweetie asked, pointing towards the scorch marks. "Seems risky, using flamethrowers in a schoolhouse..." "We didn't bag this one," Double grumbled. "Professor Inkwell and the Princess's attack dog brought it in." "Two unicorns did that?" Sweetie blanched. The scars the creature bore seemed more appropriate for a strike team, not a pair of civilians. "Yep, an' dragged it straight ta our front door in broad daylight. Now guess who gets ta do a mountain a' paperwork explainin' why the Veil Protocol went'n got breached again." "Sir!" a strike pony next to the cage called out. "We found these in the school's science lab. What do you want us to do with them?" "Lemme take a look," Double hoofed the containment case from the trooper, inspecting the manifest. "Magic geodes, thaumically unstable... Here ya go, Doc has 'em marked fer Starswirl Protocol. Once yer done wit' our new houseplant, take these topside an' hand 'em off to the Princess. Nopony else gets near 'em, understand? If the guards give ya trouble, call the officer on duty, he'll let ya through." Double sighed as the stallion ran off. "Friggin' plotholes can't telt the difference between a school and a buckin' weapons lab. Never been happier my girls ain't unicorns." Sweetie's ears drooped. Cross's mentioning of his family had made her feel guilty about her own plans for the evening. A quick glance to Night Glider and Flash told her they both felt the same way. "We could take care of the report for you, if you want to punch out early?" Double's disgruntled expression eased a little. "Thanks Drops, but ya know the rules. Senior agent on duty does th' report. Ya go and enjoy yer night off. Night Glider, new guy, y'all do... whatever it is yer supposed to be doin'. I might go throw this overgrown weed into th' Red-and-Black Alicorn Cellblock. Maybe th' screams'll cheer me up." He bid farewell to the three, trotting back down to the main level while trying to distract himself from the this last hurdle before freedom. "Oh, horseapples," Sweetie cursed. She wanted to help her training officer, but if he too stubborn to accept it, what could she do? "Yeah," Flash agreed. "He's married, I take it?" "Divorced. He and his wife separated a few years ago," Sweetie told Flash. "They still get along. Mostly." "Oh. Umm... that sucks? Just met the guy." "Yeah. He's doing fine, visits them on almost all of his off-days. That's just how it is down here." "What do you mean?" "This job is rough on relationships. Long hours, gone for months at a time, can't talk about your work. It's why they tend to turn a blind eye to letting close family 'behind the curtain,' so to speak. Like Octavia, Doc Treble's daughter. She used to practically live down here." "The gray earth pony that ran through here earlier," Night Glider whispered to Flash under her breath, bringing the befuddled guard up to speed. "It's not often ponies tell their children about what goes on down here. Foals tend to talk a lot." Sweetie continued. "If we bring spouses or fiancés in on the secret, the Director usually looks the other way. Helps keep morale up. Even if we can share what we do, though, it's still rough. Some ponies make it and some... don't." Flash couldn't find anything to say at first. It wasn't hearing that these ponies found it difficult to have a healthy home life. After all, military families faced similar problems. It was the way Sweetie said it. It was just so... final, as if that were the way things were and nopony could hope to change them. "Wow, I, uh, that's... pretty bleak." "It's not as bad as it sounds," Sweetie reassured him with a smile. "We're a tight-knit group here, and we make sure that we all have ponies we can share with. Plus, if you do know somepony on the outside you can trust, whether they're a spouse, coltfriend, or best friend, it just helps you appreciate them even more. Now, if you'll both excuse me, I have to go strangle my best friend for abandoning me at the top of a mountain." She nodded at them and trotted off up towards the base's Equestrian Revenue Service exit. Flash looked at Night Glider. "She's kind of weird, isn't she?" "Yeah, agents are like that," Night Glider agreed. "I only knew her by reputation until this last mission, but they all get a little doom-and-gloom sometimes. Don't worry about it, us Shadowbolts are way more chill." She started trotting back downstairs, with Flash following. "Unless you count the vamponies." "V-Vamponies?" "Sorta. Bossmare likes to act like one, but I'm pretty sure she's just a regular threstal." "This place is too friggin' weird. I could've sworn Mr. Cross mentioned red and black alicorns before." "Oh, he did," Night Glider grinned like a filly standing at the front of the class for her first show-and-tell. "We have a ton of those freakazoids down in containment. They're all completely loony, each one thinks he's the savior of Equestria. It'd be sad if they weren't so crazy destructive." "Seriously!?" "Yep! We really need to give you the full tour, huh?" She draped a wing around Flash, leading him down to the main level and the army of nightmares locked below it. "They all came from a super soldier cloning project gone wrong about, oh, I'd say two hundred years ago or so. Beautifully tragic backstory, let me tell you..." "So what did you think, that you could just waltz in here like you own the place? That I'd let you?" The unicorn glared down Sweetie, her cerise eyes hardening dangerously. "I don't know who you who you think you are, 'Bon-Bon,' but nopony crosses me without consequences." Her horn lit with a magenta glow, waiting for Sweetie to make her move. Sweetie gave her opponent a bemused look that masked the worry she felt. She was no stranger to high stakes, but the things she'd heard about this particular opponent... "Are you going to talk about yourself all day, or what?" "Oh, it is on!" The unicorn shouted, flaring her horn. "On three! One! Two! Three!" Sweetie sprang into action, hoofing the cup in front of her and raising it to her muzzle. She drained the cup of its bitter apple liquid as fast as she could before slamming it back to the table. Shouts and cheers erupted around her as she raised her hoof above the cup, focusing for a second before slamming it back down to the table. The edge of her hoof barely clipped the brim of the cup, flipping it over neatly upside down where it wobbled once, twice, before... tipping over on its side. Sweetie's side of the table groaned in disappointment. "So close! ...C'mon filly, keep trying!" Beauty Brass encouraged from her seat next to Sweetie. "Come on, Bon-Bon!" Frederick "Shoe" Horseshoepin agreed from further down the line of ponies at the table. Sweetie nabbed the cup again, flipping it over and slamming her hoof down again. This time, the cup landed neatly upside down and stayed there, sliding a bit from the spilled cider on the table. Seeing her cup properly flipped, Beauty immediately picked up her own cup and started drinking. Her team cheered her efforts, but Vinyl Scratch had won her side an early lead. Bon-Bon's team put up a valiant effort, but their efforts were for naught as Parish "Par" Nadermane landed a perfect flip, winning the game for Vinyl's side. "Woo! Go team! Sorry new girl, better luck next time!" Vinyl celebrated her friends' hard-won victory as Octavia, Beauty, and the other ponies on Sweetie's side of the table grumbled at their loss. She reared up and threw her forehooves around Par and Coloratura. "Weeeee are the champions, my frieeeeeends..." Coloratura rolled her eyes. "Not this again," she muttered as Vinyl's raspy, off-key singing carried across the crowd. All across the Canterlot Academy hoofball pitch, ponies mingled, danced and celebrated. A band launched into a cover of the newest Sapphire Shores single, and loud alarms chimed from the refreshments area as younger students trying to sneak cider accidentally tripped You're-Not-Eighteen spells. Banners of the Dragons' logo hung everywhere, as did posters for the upcoming Friendship Games. Somehow, among the noise of fifteen hundred students unwinding after midterms, Vinyl's awful singing still managed to carry. Sweetie's sound defeat at the hooves of the rambunctious unicorn hadn't been too surprising with all the tales Octavia had her of Vinyl, but still, was it too much to ask for a win or anything to help her be part of the group? All around her, Octavia's classmates split off without the game to hold their interest. She heard discussions of midterms and class schedules, some pop culture chatter that sailed over her head, and gossip about who fancied who, and who'd gotten caught making out behind the stadium. Yep, this is about right, Sweetie thought. I have over twenty paranatural captures under my belt, I just saved Aquastralia from being blown to radioactive rubble, and all anypony wants to talk about is the eye candy they spotted in orchestra class or whatever. She trotted over to Octavia, who was chatting with a tall white-and-pink unicorn who Sweetie swore looked familiar. "Hey Octie, I might bail a little early tonight. This place really isn't my scene and bwuuuuuh..." She trailed off as the two looked at her, the unicorn's smile lighting up the entire stadium. Dear Faust, she was gorgeous. Tall, slender, sparkling pink eyes and a warm smile. Sweetie tried in vain to think of a reply, but her train of thought was thoroughly derailed by the vision of beauty before her. "What do you mean, Sweetheart? Erm, sweetheart?" Octavia asked her friend, frowning with concern. Her friend looked on as Sweetie tried to find her words. "Well, umm, it's you know, like, everypony's been nice and everything, but ahh, I just don't have a lot of err, like," she felt sweat beads forming under her mane. Was it suddenly getting hotter in here? "This just feels... off," she finished halfheartedly. "Oh, sw--Bonnie, I promise you, everypony loves you! I know Vinyl's, well, personality is a bit much to take at first, but she grows on you. If you'd like, I can stay with you for the night?" "No, I don't keep to want, uh, want to keep you from everypony else..." Sweetie rubbed her forehead with a hoof. "I'm sorry," she said, turning to Octavia's friend. "Have we met before?" The unicorn looked mortified for a second. "I apologize, I completely forgot my manners! Fleur, Fleur Dis Lee." She held out a hoof to Sweetie. Sweetie was dumbfounded, fumbling as she shook Fleur's hoof. "Sw-ahem, Bon-Bon. Are you, like, the Fleur Dis Lee?" Octavia rolled her eyes as Fleur smiled warmly. "Yes, I'm that Fleur." "Holy flaming Celestia, are you serious? Guardians of the Sun was like my favorite movie ever! That fight scene on top of the burning zeppelin, and your monologue right before the final battle with the Snowviets, and even the romance subplot felt natural and not tacked on at all and I can't believe it's really you! You're one of the reasons I do what I do!" "Why, thank you! It's always wonderful to meet a fan!" Fleur replied, flattered at the praise. Most of the hubbub around her enrollment at CA had died down the previous years. Society ponies and celebrities were uncommon, but not an unheard of sight at the capital's most prestigious institution of higher learning. "What do you do, then?" "Oh, erm, I'm a travelling confectionery salesmare." Fleur raised an eyebrow at that, but said nothing. "What are you doing here? I thought the sequel's coming out over Hearthswarming?" "We finished shooting over summer break. I'm not joining the press tour until semester's over," Fleur answered. "I made sure the schedule wouldn't interfere with my education before I signed on. I won't be an actress forever, after all." "So, Bonnie, what were you saying before? You were thinking of leaving?" Octavia needled her best friend. "Whuh, whuh well I could probably stay for a little while longer..." "Oh, no, if you feel uncomfortable please don't let me keep you here! We can head back to my dormitory if you'd like!" Octavia leaned over to Fleur, fake-whispering to her. "Bonnie is a little nervous that she won't fit in with us schoolfillies." "HEY!" Fleur giggled. "Bon-Bon, was it? "I'll fetch us some drinks, leave you two some time to catch up?" She trotted off towards the bar, where a group of obviously-underage colts were being shooed away. "Thank you, dear. I have a feeling we'll be needing some!" Octavia replied. "Wait, I want to know about the sequel! Did Vladimir Poutine survive!? Is he coming back for revenge!?!?" Sweetie tried to run after her, only for Octavia to grab her. "Whoa, filly! Behave," she wrapped a foreleg around Sweetie, holding her put. "You have stars in your eyes." "Right! Right, my bad," Sweetie ran a hoof over her face. "Okay, what. The. Hay? You could've told me she was that Fleur Dis Lee!?" "I'm surprised you didn't put it together," Octavia replied. "Then again, you kept getting her name wrong when I mentioned her in my letters. I figured I'd let it be a surprise for you." "Well, it was." Sweetie told her. "Faust-damn, she is... wow." "Somepony's got a cru-ush!" Octavia sang, squeezing her friend in a one-legged hug. "What? No! I'm not into mares like that!" "Oh, I know. I vividly remember how you broke my heart when we were sixteen," Octavia sighed and looked away, feigning anguish at the memory of that fateful night she bore her feelings to Sweetie, only to find her friend did not share them. She'd since grown up and wrote the whole thing off as a confused filly coming to terms with her orientation, and never missed an opportunity to thank Sweetie for refusing to bend to awkwardness and standing by her friend throughout the whole ordeal. She also never missed a chance to annoy Sweetie with hammy melodramatic angst. Fleur wasn't the only talented actress at the Academy. "Perhaps I was never truly the pony meant to capture the elusive heart of the legendary Agent Sweetie Drops!" Sweetie immediately looked around in panic, fearing that somepony had overheard. She needn't have worried. Vinyl's cat-strangling easily drowned out Octavia's slip-up. "Octie!" She chided. "Don't use my real name! Besides, it's 'Special Agent' now." "Yes, yes of course, how could I forget? You're very special indeed, 'Bon-Bon.'" Sarcasm dripped from Octavia's voice as she smiled sweetly. "As for Fleur, she has that effect on everypony who meets her. Gay, straight, mare, stallion, it doesn't matter. That filly is walking proof that there's no such thing as a zero on the Whinnsey scale. I do hate to speak of my friends in such a fashion, but it's an undeniable fact." "Hey, I just really like her mane-er-movies. Her movies. She just... makes it look so cool. Galloping off into the sunset with a hunky stallion at her side." "It's charisma, Sweetheart. Some mares just have 'it', so to speak. Fleur may leave some ponies starstruck, but if you can manage to look past your adorable celebrity-crush--" "Not what's happening here. Shut up." "--then I'm positive she'd be delighted to your undoubtedly many questions about her cinema career." "You think so? Cool, I just might do that." Sweetie replied. "What about you?" "What about me what, dear?" "You actually do like girls," Sweetie pointed out. "...yes, I'm aware. So?" "So don't tell me you're spending all this time with your ridonculous bombshell friend and you never even gave it a thought." "I never did," Octavia replied flatly. "She and I were not very fond of each other until recently. I was hardly a social pony back then and she spent most of her time on campus with a group of somewhat unpleasant mares." "The groupies, I remember you mentioned them." "Yes, in my letters. They constantly attempted to outdo a certain Princess of Love who shall not be named around Fleur. After Her Majesty Miss Cadenza left CA, she realized the toxic nature of her social circle and we buried the hatchet, so to speak. She's a wonderful friend who I'd do anything for, but even if my affections weren't alr--ahem, even if I was attracted to her, I believe our history would have soured such feelings." "Okay, okay, I get it. You and Fleur, bee eff effs and nothing else." Sweetie put her hooves up in mock surrender. "Soo... who it?" "Pardon?" "Hey." Sweetie wasn't buying it. "Don't lie to me, Octie. Secret-freakin-agent. I'm kinda good at this. You've got that same look on your face you had when we convinced your dad we had no idea how that Minotian Death Worm escaped from containment." "I'm not sure I'll appreciate where you're going with this." "Then consider it payback for ditching me." Sweetie grinned evilly. "A nice game of 'who does Octie want to take a roll in the hay with?' Hmm... Beauty Brass? She's your roommate, maybe that tiny little dorm you share has you thinking how nice it'd be to get a little closer?" Octavia made a face. "I'm afraid you've let these fevered fantasies of yours run a bit too wild." "That's a 'no', then. Hmm... who could it be..." Sweetie smirked as she stared intently at her friend. Octavia fidgeted, clearly uncomfortable. Sweetie waggled her eyebrows at her friend. Octavia broke eye contact, laughing and blushing with embarrassment. "Stop it! You know I hate that look!" Octavia protested. I've forgotten how much fun this is! Sweetie was about to guess again when she was interrupted by Fleur's return. "I'm back, everypony! And look who I found!" She greeted the two as she trotted over with Vinyl Scratch in tow. "Who wants cider!?" The two unicorns levitated red cups of cider towards Octavia and Sweetie. "Please," Octavia hoofed a cider from Fleur, downing it in one long draw. "Whoa, Tavi! Never seen you chug like that before!" Vinyl's cerise eyes widened. "Don't go too crazy without me, Rara's up after this set. I gotta run the mixer for her new song." Fleur pursed her lips in concern. "Is everything alright?" "Oh, everything's just wonderful," Octavia assured them. She threw a foreleg around Sweetie, a wooden smile plastered over her muzzle. "What can I say? My friends just bring out the best in me! Isn't that right, 'Bon-Bon'?" She leaned in further, whispering in Sweetie's ear. "You've had you fun, I'm sorry about the elevator. Now kindly drop it, please?" "Oh, Octie," Sweetie whispered back. "Don't think for a second that this is over." "Sweet! See, everypony's happy!" Vinyl exclaimed, Octavia's sarcasm flying over her head. "Hey new girl, no hard feelings about the game, right? I meant it all in good fun." She floated a cider to Sweetie. "Sorry about the showboating, I kinda forgot you weren't part of the usual group." "It's Bon-Bon," Sweetie replied, hoofing the drink and taking a sip. She still wasn't sure about the obnoxious unicorn, but felt some of her annoyance fade with the almost-apology. "But, uh, thanks. Who's Rara?" "Oh right, that's Coloratura's nickname. She's backstage getting ready for her performance." "Your performance," Octavia corrected Vinyl with a smile. "The way I understand it, you put quite a lot of work into it as well." "Hey, I know I'm a superstar and all," Vinyl said with a smug grin, "but I just mixed the background track. The lyrics are all Rara." Octavia rolled her eyes at Vinyl's usual cockiness. "Don't sell yourself short, dear. It's an excellent piece of original work. Frankly, I'm amazed that contraption of yours could produce something so pleasing to the ears instead of your usual industrial saw noise." "Thanks for the encouragement, Tavi. Right before I'm about to go up onstage too." "Vinyl, the piece is amazing. Don't worry about a thing. I've heard you two practice, and it sounds quite lovely. I'm talking about your, well, experimental tracks. The ponies in the suite below ours complained to the residency director that somepony was firing a party cannon at all hours of the night!" "Hey, at least I'm creating my own stuff instead of playing Neightoven over and over again!" "I have to practice sometime! My cello isn't like your soundtable, I can't just--" Blah blah blah music music who cares. From the looks of it, this little spat wasn't ending in the next few minutes. Sweetie glanced around the crowd as she sipped her cider, looking for someway to extricate herself from the argument. "Not a music mare, I take it?" Sweetie jumped as Fleur trotted next to her, levitating her own cider. "N-not so much, no." Sweetie replied, taking the chance and backing out of Octavia and Vinyl's arguement. "Are they always like this?" "For the most part," the actress replied. "They're extremely close, but tend to show it in... strange ways." "They're just baiting each other like they enjoy the arguing. I hate when two ponies do that, it's so annoying." The universe's breath caught in its throat as a ten-ton brick of irony sailed completely over Sweetie's head. "I imagine it gets old fast too." Fleur laughed. "It does, trust me. So, how'd you meet Octavia? She said you two have known each other for years, but she's so private about her home life." "Not much to tell, really. I grew up in a resort town in the mountains, met her while she was on vacation. We hit it off, and since neither of us had any real friends before that our parents arranged for us to visit one another whenever we could." "That's... actually very heartwarming. Two lonely ponies meet by chance and travel halfway across the country in the name of friendship? It could be a film in it's own right." Fleur mused as she mulled it over. "I guess? It's my life, you know? Never really thought of it that way. Always seemed normal to me." Sweetie took a pull of cider. Octavia's right, she thought. She's not bad to talk to at all, once you get past the mane and the eyes and the smile and DAT FLANK -- Quiet, you -- You ruin all our fun, superego! -- Behave and I won't have to, id. She forced herself to swallow the mouthful of cider. "How about you? I mean, I knew CA had a lot of high-society ponies attending, but you're like famous-famous, not castle-district garden party famous! Oh! And seriously, what happens with Vladimir Poutine? Cause he was such a badass villain and it would suck if they just replaced him with some generic mustache-twirler in the new one..." Fleur laughed, snorting into her drink. "I don't want to spoil anything for the sequel, but there's an old saying in Applewood: if you don't see somepony die, they're not really dead. Even if they do fall of a burning airship into an also-burning missile silo. Besides, Dapper Crag signed on for three films total." "Oh nice! The sequel is going to be so. Amazing!" Sweetie finished the last of her cider. "Time for another round?" "I'll join you," Octavia huffed as she stomped over. "Miss Thinks-She's-Better-Than-Everypony-Else needs to prepare for Coloratura's performance." Fleur and Sweetie laughed. "You did start it, Octie." Sweetie pointed out, "and I thought that was my nickname?" "Bon-Bon, I will happily discuss the miasma of annoyances that is Vinyl Scratch later, when I'm properly inebriated. For now, let's just get some more drinks and move up front so we can properly support our friend for her song." Sweetie and Fleur followed Octavia as she trotted toward the refreshment stand, still in a huff. Fleur gave Sweetie a knowing smile as their mutual friend grumbled under her breath. Okay, so maybe pop culture and who likes who isn't as bad as I thought it'd be, Sweetie thought. Still, can't help but feel like I'm missing something... "Do you ever feel Like it's your destiny To move the sun and moon All across the sky?" Octavia drunkenly sang as she stared up at the stars. The stars were wobbly and bumpy, as if Princess Celestia had placed them inside a martini shaker. This thought made her want another drink. She started to stand to go get one when everything went topsy-turvy. "Whoa, there! Take it easy, girl!" Coloratura grabbed Octavia before she could slide off Sweetie's back and fall to the dirt. She sighed as her inebriated friend slumped back into her resting spot. "This is not how I pictured this night ending. 'Why, thank you for having me on the show Pony O'Brien! You look handsome as usual. Oh, the night I knew I would become a star? Yes, I helped drag a lush halfway across campus and snuck her into her dorm so she could sleep it off!'" "Do you ever feel Like you'd look better with A sparkling golden crown And an ethereal mane?" "Sorry we had to pull you away from the crowd," Sweetie apologized as Octavia slurred her way through Coloratura's song. "She gets... feisty when she's like this." She winced as her friend's squirming put a little too much pressure on her sore ribs. "It's alright," Coloratura replied. "Frankly, I'm elated that it went over as well as it did. I can't thank you enough, Vinyl! Couldn't have done it without you!" "Eh, you're welcome," Vinyl groused as she shot Octavia an annoyed look. "Good to know some ponies appreciate my sound." "Soundsss like Tavi liked it too!" Fleur giggled, covering her muzzle as she let out a small hiccup. Both she and Beauty were showing signs of the long night, their gaits slightly wobbly. "Errypony does! You'll be the nexsht superstar, Rara! Ooh, I should put you in touch with my old agent, he'sh kinda dif... diffi... hard to work with but he'sh really good!" "Thanks, Fleur!" Coloratura replied. "I just may take you up on that." "Did you know that there's A chance for all of us? Spark of friendship in us, You just gotta..." "Sho, how're we doin' this?" Beauty asked the group as they came to a stop in front of Platinum Hall's facade. "Magic handoff?" "Yep. Only way to sneak her past the front desk," Vinyl answered. "Fleur, Beauty, head upstairs to the room. I'll float her up from down here." "Got it!" Fleur happily replied as they unsteadily trotted towards the lobby door. "You sure you're okay, Fleur?" Vinyl called after the two. "Maybe you shouldn't be drinking and casting?" "I'm fiiiiiine!" Fleur called back to the concerned DJ. "I've got this," she assured Vinyl moments before she smacked her muzzle into the closed lobby door. Beauty bowled over laughing as Fleur let loose with a string of very unladylike curses. She wrapped the door handle with her pink aura, struggling to push the door open. Beauty tried to help with her forehooves, to no avail. "...Maybe I should go with them," Coloratura strode over to the struggling pair and pointed to the PULL sign next to the handle. She wrapped a fetlock around it and easily pulled it open, then ushered the two drunks inside. As they disappeared into the dorm, Octavia upped the volume of her rendition of Coloratura's ear-worm. "Igniiiite your light as you feeeel the spark, Just raise that sun and shine away the dark!" "Pony you're an AAAAALICORN! Feel the magic flowin' throooough your horn! Don't you wanna fly, fly, fly Soar across the sky, sky, sky!" "Got a set of pipes on her," Vinyl remarked as Octavia wailed through the chorus, her foreleg wrapped around Sweetie's head for stability. "Too bad she had to be a stuck up bit-" "Boom boom boom! Send that nightmare to the moon moon moon!" "Yeah, I don't know what was up with that?" Sweetie shifted her stance to balance Octavia. "Don't get me wrong, she loves a good verbal sparring match, but she's usually less... mean. Are you two having some sort of fight I don't know about?" Vinyl shrugged, frowning. "If we are, it's news to me. Maybe she was already drunk. Speaking of, how in Tartarus can somepony be as pickled as she is and still keep their bowtie on straight? She doesn't have a mane hair out of place and she can't even walk, for crying out loud." "It's truly a mystery for the ages," Sweetie intoned flatly. "I wouldn't worry about it too much. She was a little on edge before about... something. She was probably just flustered." "She was? What about?" "Not my place to say." "Come on! We're both Tavi's friends, no secrets between a friend's... mutual friends... right?" "Hah, that's not how that goes." "You know what I meant." "Sorry, no can do. Secrets are serious business in my profession." Vinyl frowned at that. "And what profession is that?" Horseapples. "...Travelling candy salesmare?" "Ookay..." "...It's a competitive field. I know ponies that would kill for my proprietary chocolate-covered pretzel recipe." "Do you take pretzels and dip them in chocolate?" "...Yes." "Huh. I see." Vinyl looked at her oddly. "You're kinda weird, new girl, but you're alright in my book. It's always good to know somepony else has Tavi's back. Literally, in this case," She prodded Octavia, who had thankfully abandoned her singing and was content with resting draped across Sweetie like a set of saddlebags. "OKAY VINYL WE'RE READY!" Vinyl and Sweetie jumped as Beauty Brass hollered down at them from Room 413's open window. She and Fleur waved down at the trio. "SHEND HER UP!" "Shh! Use some discretion, filly!" Vinyl hissed back in as loud a whisper she dared risk. "SORRY!" Beauty yelled. Vinyl facehoofed. Coloratura pulled Beauty back from the window and tossed out a length of rope, which Vinyl caught in her aura and quickly tied around Octavia's barrel. "In case the glamour girl drops her," she explained before wrapping Octavia in her magic and lifting her off Sweetie's back. Well, this seems safe. "Hey there, party mare." Vinyl spoke to a sleepy Octavia floating in front of her. "Feeling up for a little flying?" "Vinyl!" Octavia exclaimed. "Your song was sooooo good! Wait, yours and Rarash. You know whaddImean right?" "Heh, thanks. I do." Vinyl laughed. Sweetie grinned to herself. "I'm shorry about fightin' before. Here, lemme make it up to you," Octavia waggled her forelegs back and forth, trying to swim through empty air and Vinyl's magic. "Closer!" Called it! Sweetie thought. Still can't shake that 'missing something' feeling, though. What was I trying to get out of Octie before she picked the fight with Vinyl again? Vinyl levitated Octavia closer, floating her friend in front of her. "Sure, what are you--" Vinyl's thought fizzled as Octavia snaked her forelegs around Vinyl's withers. Octavia pulled herself to Vinyl and kissed her softly on the lips. ...Right, now I remember. Vinyl stood still, frozen in shock. A million thoughts flew through her head, but she could act on none of them. The tender moment lasted only a second before her aura winked out, dropping Octavia to the sidewalk. Octavia let out a snorting laugh as she rolled into the dew-soaked grass. "...What..." Vinyl managed to utter, her cheeks flushing bright red. "HEY ARE WE SHTILL DOIN' THIS? WHAT'S GOIN' ON DOWN THERE?" Fleur bellowed from above. "I... I... the fu..." "You, uh, you okay there?" Sweetie asked. "...What just happened..." "You got to first base with your suitemate?" "Oh... why?" "That, I think, is a question you should ask Octavia." Octavia chose that moment to start snoring loudly. "A question you should ask Octavia tomorrow." "...Okay, yeah that sounds good. I like that idea." Vinyl relit her horn, levitating Octavia up to the open window. "She's comin up, roomie!" She called to Fleur's silhouette in the darkened window. Sweetie made out a wobbly nod from the shadow. As Octavia floated up towards the dorm, a pale pink hue joined Vinyl's bright magenta, guiding their passenger towards the window. "Okay, got her?" "I got her!" *Clunk* Vinyl and Sweetie winced as Octavia's head bumped against the windowframe. "Oops... I still got her!" They saw Octavia disappear inside the dormitory. Snippets of Coloratura's chiding and Fleur's laughter floated down on the cool autumn breeze. "C'mon, let's head upstairs. There's a common room between Fleur and my room and Beauty and Tavi's. We've got a futon in there you can crash on." Vinyl turned to Sweetie as the two trotted towards the lobby door. "So, tomorrow, do you want to tell her about that, or should I?" "I'll tell her. You want her in a good mood. You know, for that other thing." "It was just a kiss, Bon-Bon. She's drunk, it probably didn't mean anything." "Keep telling yourself that." Sweetie silently thanked Celestia for the darkness, because she was doing a terrible job at hiding her amused grin. "She really respects your music, by the way. She'd mention you a lot when she wrote to me. Called you brilliant, if a little eccentric." "Really? I, uh... huh. Good to know." "I also may want to hold the window thing over her head until the end of time." "Dammit! I wanted to do that!" Sweetie laughed. "You're kinda weird Vinyl, but you're alright in my book." "Needless to say, the details of that night are hazy at best. Most of what I've told you is secondhand as I--Oh, for Celestia's sake, go ahead. Get it out of your system already!" Lyra held both forehooves over her bright-red face. "Hehe--ahem--get what out? I've got noo--" *snort* "--idea what you're talking about!" Octavia sighed. "Fine, I admit it. I can see how it would be fairly amusing for somepony who didn't know me back then. I promise I won't get angry if you laugh." She leaned forward on her desk, waiting for Lyra to crack. "I'm--hehehe--serious, I won't--BAHAHAHAHAHA THAT'S GREAT THEY HAD TO CARRY YOU HOME AND SNEAK YOU THROUGH THE WINDOW!!! Never in a thousand years would I have thought you'd be so awesome!" Lyra fell off Octavia's plush executive office chair, rolling around on the floor with laughter. "Yes, yes, highly amusing. I was a different pony back then, and I had a few very eye-opening experiences that..." Octavia trailed off. Lyra had poked her head back above the desk, her mirth instantly draining away as she focused on something behind Octavia's seat with a mixture of embarrassment and horror. "Heartstrings? Is everything okay?" Lyra soundlessly pointed behind Octavia. Octavia turned to look, and her heart froze. A figure stood in the office's open doorway, staring at the two. She stepped into the room and the shadows of the hallway receded, her pink and blue locks and the betrayal written across her face quite visible. Lyra gulped. "H-Hello Sweetheart," Octavia offered. "Octie. Lyra." "What are you doing here? It's been quite a while." Octavia's voice wavered as she tried to keep calm. "Lyra was late for our meeting at the farmer's market, I came here to find her. Discord let me in." "It was I, Discord! Master of Chaos!" Discord's mocking boast echoed down throughout the theater's backstage. "Sweetheart, I don't know what you heard but we were just reminiscing abou--" "Save it, Octie. And for the last time, don't call me that! That name is dead, and it needs to stay dead! You of all ponies should know how dangerous it is to dredge up the past." Octavia fell silent as Bon-Bon's glare turned from her to Lyra. "And you. I trusted you, Lyra! You're my best friend, and I told you things I've never told anypony outside the Service." Bon-Bon advanced on Lyra, stabbing a hoof at her as she shrank back to the office wall. "I know patience and common sense aren't your strong points, but I thought you'd have the brains to not start chatting about my double life the second I turn my back!" Lyra opened her mouth to protest, but Bon-Bon cut her off. "No, I don't care if Octavia already knows, lives are at stake here! That kind of irresponsibility can get ponies killed! You don't know what kind of danger the most innocent-sounding information can pose if it gets out, or who might overhear! Like, oh I don't know, the SPIRIT OF CHAOS AND DISHARMONY IN THE NEXT ROOM!? There are too many things out there that want me dead, and if you're just going to bring this up with anypony who happens to know my old name, then maybe I can't trust you after all." Sweetie pulled out a box wrapped in brown paper from a saddlebag and shoved it at Lyra. "Here. Have fun with your little play." She turned and stomped out of the room, Leaving Lyra and Octavia to stew in their shock. "Soo good to see you again, Warden Sweetie! Listen, I hate to bring it up after such a loong time, but before Celestia re-purposed me as her personal lawn ornament, I believe some of your coworkers stiffed me on a carton of cigarettes. Any chance you could look into it? It cost me a gallon of pruno and I'm a little worried Grogar might try to shiv me the next time I see him." "Buzz off, Discord." Lyra and Octavia heard the sound of the theater's front door slamming shut. Lyra pulled the brown wrapping off the package with her aura, revealing a pair of shiny bronze night-vision goggles. Wordlessly, she took the goggles in her magic and pulled off the card, blinking back tears as she read Sweetie's tidy mouthwriting. Hey, Ly! Just a little thank-you for being so patient with me. I know I've kinda led you in circles with the you-know-what, it's just not always easy for me to talk about it y'know? Anyway, I had Time Turner fix these up for you. Enjoy! -Friends always, Bonnie Cargo Dock, Las Pegasus Intertational Aerodrome Las Pegasus, Equestria December 26, 994 C. E. Dockworkers buzzed around the gantries, eager to unload the MV North Star so they could turn right around and stuff it full of Equestrian-made products before sending it on its way. They slid containers down roller-ramps, arranging them for pickup as other workers refueled the giant minotaur airship and refilled its gas envelopes. In the commotion and noise of the docks, the longshoremares failed to notice the thumping and rattling issuing from one particular crate. The metal box finally peeled open with a screech and a flash of orange magical energy. A plain yellow unicorn with a burgundy mane and a red-orange flower cutie mark clambered out, wrinkling her nose as she looked back at the crate's contents in disgust. "Ugh! If I smell olives or hummus for the next thousand years, it'll be too soon!" A half-hour of sneaking and dodging LPX's Royal Guard detachment, and she was free and clear on the bright, cheery Applewood beachside. She trotted up to a newsstand and swiped the day's Equestria Daily while the vendor was distracted by her flirty smile. "Minions, minions... let's see here..." She muttered to herself as she flipped through local crime reports. "Ooh! ...Nahh. Hmm... nope. Ugh! Classifieds aren't worth a damn anymore. What's a girl got to do to find a good scapegoat these days?" She finally stopped more than halfway through the paper, mulling over a short article about some gang violence in nearby Sunnysaddle. A gem on her saddlebag buzzed, and she quickly hoofed an earpiece to her ear. "Heyyyy, big poppa T! How's my favorite client!? Good, good, listen, I just made it back to the ol' EQ and... uh huh... hey there! I explained that, it was an issue with the subcontractors! Don't forget, you came to us! You're always welcome to take your business elsewhere. If you can find someone who can deliver..." She waited a second, nodding as she listened to the voice on the other end. "Right, I understand your frustration and I assure you this is our top priority. You need to understand that setup like this takes time, and I intend on doing it right. After that little cluster in the tropics, it's pretty obvious that we've had some heat on us from day one. I've talked it over with the board, and they agree that the best move we can make right now is to step back and do a little research on our competition. What's past is past, but we don't want to be blindsided again... Right, no, it definitely pushes back our timetable, but it'll take much less infrastructure and expense and the risk-reward will be wayy better. That's a Fire Lily guarantee! Unless, of course, you want to throw down a half a billion bits for another submarine." The voice on the other end of the line spoke into her ear again, and she nodded a few times. "So far, not much. The board knows about these players, but as far as details go, they're not exactly the sharing type." As the voice replied, she rolled her eyes at a passing stallion, making the international hoof gesture for 'never shuts up, ever,' and mouthing prick silently. "Whoa, whoa! Settle down there! C'mon, T-Bone, bubby, you really think we'd leave our friends hangin' like that? Your best pal Lily's on top of this! Next time we talk, I'll have everything down to their horseshoe size!" She floated out a few photographs from her saddlebag. They were snapped from a distance, showing a group of ponies in black armor clustered around the docks of a bayside town on a tropical island. Most wore face-concealing gas masks, but she had circled a few promising leads. Two stallions wearing police armor, and an orange pegasus with a bright blue mane and tail. She stopped over the last one, a cream earthpony with a two-tone mane. "Besides, I've got a good idea where to get started..."